The Lindsay Park Racing stable of co-trainers Daiv and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig has been red hot with its juveniles this season, and Shadwell homebred Muraaqeb became the 13th 2-year-old winner to emanate from the operation this season with a debut win in Friday's Moonee Valley opener. Breaking with the leaders from the outside barrier, Muraaqeb was quickly allowed to drop back to last by jockey Mark Zahra. Steered six wide coming off the turn, the big bay employed a devastating turn of foot to sweep past the entire field down the short stretch. He collared front-running Seized (Aus) (Wanted {Aus}) inside the final 50 metres to win by a handy 1 1/4 lengths.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes was comparing Muraaqeb to the stable's G1 Blue Diamond S. favourite Catchy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), as well as 'TDN Rising Star' Tulip (Aus) (Pierro {Aus}), post-race.
"We've always had a bit of an opinion of him, he's always shown above average ability at home and he's trialled well at home, so it was good to see him win like that today," Hayes told Racing.com. "I thought it was a bit like Catchy and Tulip, that kind of class."
Lindsay Park is already preparing a three-pronged attack for the Feb. 25 Blue Diamond, with Formality (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) set to join the aforementioned pair. Muaarqeb, who is not nominated to the Blue Diamond, will target the G1 Golden Slipper on Mar. 18.
"We'll go to Sydney and look to find one of the [Slipper] lead-ups," Hayes added. "We haven't actually picked one out, we were just seeing how he ran tonight, but he'll end up going to Sydney and hopefully running in the Slipper."
Muraaqeb is the first foal to race for his dam, whose first two foals died before making the racetrack. Muraaqeb is followed by a yearling filly by Exceed And Excel (Aus), and the mare was barren last year after being covered by Sepoy (Aus). Muraaqeb's third dam is the G1 Queensland Oaks and G1 Queensland Derby winner Bravery (Aus) (Zephyr Zip {NZ}), who also produced the G2 Chelmsford S. winner Brave Prince (Kenmare {Fr}) and the stakes-winning Valourina (Aus) (Snippets {Aus}), herself the dam of three stakes winners and five stakes horses. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, A$30,000.